Arts to Hearts Magazine Issue 13 Is Here – Get Your Copy Now

Some magazines are meant to be read and left behind. Others ask you to linger, to return to a page, revisit an artist’s story, or find a piece of art that feels a little more personal with every view. This is the case with Arts to Hearts Magazine – Issue 13. Available now to pre-order, this deeply reflective issue brings together contemporary artists, powerful stories, and powerful works of art around the theme of Things I Hold Onto.

Issue 13 is about the things that remain with us. The memories we revisit, the people we carry with us, the places that shaped us, the emotions we never seem to let go of, and the experiences that quietly become part of us. Through the voices and creative processes of over 40 contemporary artists, this issue explores how these invisible threads can become tangible, something we can paint, photograph, sculpt, and share. It is an issue about memory and meaning, but above all, about the deeply human reasons we make art.

Our Theme: Things I Hold Onto

The question at the heart of Issue 13 is a simple one: What do you hold on to? For each artist, it can be a childhood memory, a relationship, a familiar space, a moment of loss or resilience, a feeling, a dream, or something so seemingly mundane as an object that has developed meaning over time.

Things I Hold Onto is more than a visual prompt. Instead it is an invitation to reflect. The artists included in this issue turn inside and reflect on what has stayed with them, what has continued to shape their visions, and what has stayed with them. Their insights remind us that art isn’t always about something we want to say, it may be about something we simply can’t let go of.

Some things we hold onto are not meant to last forever. Sometimes, a flower, a memory, or a fleeting moment can stay with us long after it has passed. Exploring this idea through art, The Flowers I Couldn’t Keep, our latest virtual exhibition, is now live on Artsy, bringing together artists who capture the beauty, emotion, and memories that flowers can hold.

The Stories We Carry: In Conversation With Four Remarkable Artists

Some of the most meaningful parts of Things I Hold Onto are found in the conversations behind the art. In four intimate artist interviews, Issue 13 looks beyond finished works and into the memories, ideas, emotions, and experiences that continue to shape these artists’ creative worlds. Each conversation offers a different answer to the question at the heart of this edition, revealing not only what these artists create, but what they choose to carry with them.

Things He Holds Onto: In Conversation With Cover Artist Troy Brooks

Opening this collection of conversations is Troy Brooks, the cover artist whose captivating work sets the emotional tone for Issue 13. In Things He Holds Onto, Brooks reflects on the influences, memories, and ideas that have remained meaningful throughout his artistic journey. His conversation offers a closer look at the world behind his evocative imagery and the personal threads that continue to find their way into his work.

The World We Keep Inside: In Conversation With Oksana Fedchyshyn

For Oksana Fedchyshyn, the things we hold onto can exist within an entire inner world. Her conversation explores the personal experiences, emotions, and quiet observations that inform her creative practice. The World We Keep Inside invites readers to consider how much of an artist’s story can live beneath the surface, and how art can become a way of giving that inner world a visible form.

The Light Worth Holding Onto: In Conversation With Linda Mannel

In her conversation, Linda Mannel reflects on the moments, feelings, and sources of inspiration that continue to bring light into her creative life. The Light Worth Holding Onto is a thoughtful exploration of what gives us strength, what stays with us through change, and how those sources of light can influence the way an artist sees and creates.

The Dream She Keeps Returning To: In Conversation With Cash Award Winner Nayirie Keuteklian

The final conversation features Nayirie Keuteklian, this issue’s Cash Award Winner, whose work La Danza De La Esperanza (Blue Bird) earned the 1st Prize. In The Dream She Keeps Returning To, Keuteklian opens up about the ideas, emotions, and dreams that continue to call her back. Her conversation adds another layer of meaning to her award-winning work, allowing readers to discover the personal story and creative thinking behind a piece that so beautifully embodies the spirit of hope and imagination.

Artworks That Caught Our Eye

Some of the most interesting pieces in Issue 13 are those that make the theme Things I Hold Onto materialize. Of the many artists included in Issue 13, three stand out in terms of their approach to memory, emotion, hope, and identity.

Nayirie Keuteklian — La Danza De La Esperanza (Blue Bird)

Taking the 1st Prize and the issue’s Cash Award, Nayirie Keuteklian brings together dreamlike symbolism and expressive portraiture in La Danza De La Esperanza (Blue Bird). There is a sense of movement, wonder, and quiet optimism within the work, making it a fitting reflection of the hopes and dreams we continue to carry with us. Her recognition in Issue 13 celebrates not only the visual strength of the piece, but the emotional world it creates for the viewer.

Izzy Thomas — How I’m Feeling Now

As the 1st Runner-Up, Izzy Thomas captures the complexity of emotion and identity in How I’m Feeling Now. Through vibrant colour, expressive portraiture, and layered symbolism, the work feels immediate and deeply personal. It speaks to those shifting inner states that can be difficult to put into words, reminding us that sometimes what we hold onto is simply a feeling—and the version of ourselves connected to it.

Carrie Scanga — Futureproof

2nd Runner-Up Carrie Scanga takes a more sculptural and conceptual approach with Futureproof. By transforming familiar everyday objects into an installation, Scanga explores ideas of memory, preservation, and what we choose to carry into the future. The work asks us to reconsider the ordinary things around us and the meaning they can accumulate over time, turning familiar materials into a thoughtful reflection on what remains.

Meet the Artists Who Make This Issue Unforgettable

Beyond the four highlighted conversations that open this issue, the magazine includes the voices and creative worlds of 100 artists, each with their own answer to what it means to hold on. Inside these pages, you’ll find reflections on their art, creative journeys, inspirations, experiences, and the ideas that continue to shape the way they see the world. Some are emerging artists, looking for new ways to express themselves, while others are established artists drawing on decades of experience and perspective.

Together, they form one rich collection of contemporary art, varied in form, style, origin, and experience, but yet all work in harmony with the issue and makes it feel coherent and human. You’ll find new artists to love, new stories to relate to, new perspectives that you may have forgotten you read.

Pre-order your copy of Arts to Hearts Magazine – Issue 13 and discover the remarkable mix of artists, stories, and perspectives that come together to create this truly special edition.

Many Artists, One Beautiful Conversation

What makes Things I Hold Onto such a special issue is that while every artist arrives with a different story, all of their voices become part of one larger conversation. Across its pages, memories, relationships, dreams, places, emotions, and experiences come together through the unique perspectives of the artists featured. What one artist holds onto may be entirely different from another, yet each interpretation reminds us of the same beautiful truth, that the things we carry with us often become the things that shape us most.

With its thoughtful conversations, remarkable works, and the many perspectives of contemporary artists brought together in one place, Arts to Hearts Magazine – Issue 13 is more than an exploration of a theme. It is a collection of stories to discover, artists to remember, and ideas to return to. If Things I Hold Onto has made you wonder about the memories, people, and moments you carry with you, perhaps this is the perfect time to turn the pages and discover what these artists have chosen to hold on to. Pre-order your copy of Issue 13 and become part of the conversation.

For readers who want to continue discovering the artists, stories, and perspectives celebrated by Arts to Hearts, our collection of books offers even more to explore. From artist showcases and contemporary art collections to beautifully curated editions that bring creative voices together, these publications make meaningful additions to any art lover’s bookshelf. Discover 5 Arts to Hearts Books Every Art Collector Should Own and find your next art-world favorite to return to.

Editor’s Note

If this issue has inspired you to discover more artists and share your own creative story, there is more waiting for you at Arts to Hearts. Submissions are now open for our latest edition of the 101 Art Book: Faces Edition, inviting artists to become part of this growing collection of contemporary voices and perspectives. We would love to see the faces, stories, and artistic worlds that make your work uniquely yours.